• Source:JND
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No Handshake Row: Former Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ramiz Raja has joined the bandwagon of criticism against the match referee Andy Pycroft over the handshake controversy between India and Pakistan players in their Asia Cup 2025.

Raja alleged that Pycroft showed "blatant bias" towards India, labelling him a "favourite for the Indians". The controversy arises from Pycroft reportedly preventing India skipper Suryakumar Yadav and Pakistan captain Salman Agha from shaking hands during their high-octane match on September 14.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) sought intervention from the International Cricket Council (ICC) to remove Pycroft; however, their plea was rejected twice due to being bereft.

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"What's interesting is [...] Andy Pycroft is favourite [for the Indians]. Whenever I host tosses, he's always a permanent fixture over there," he said in a press conference in Lahore on Wednesday.

Raja questioned the neutrality of ICC match referee Pycroft, alleging that he had officiated in more than 90 matches involving India. 

"This is something blatant for me because though I thought he had refereed several matches, stats seemingly show something one-sided. It should not be like this. This is a neutral platform, which is why there are referees and match officials. However, I felt that he was fixed there. But I hope that better sense prevails," he remarked.

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The PCB said Pycroft had apologised to its team management for the imbroglio handshake. However, an ICC source clarified that the apology was especially for the miscommunication and not for the handshake snub itself.

"ICC's controversial match referee Andy Pycroft has apologised to the manager and captain of the Pakistan cricket team. Andy Pycroft had prohibited the captains of both teams from shaking hands during the India-Pakistan match," the PCB said in a post on X, formerly Twitter.

"The ICC has expressed its readiness to investigate the violation of the Code of Conduct during the match on September 14," the PCB said.